Method of transduction of cells with retroviral vectors

Abstract

The present invention relates to an efficient method, termed spin transduction, of transducing cells with retroviral vectors. Retroviral particles, suspended in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, are contacted with the cells to be transduced, and the mixture is centrifuged for a sufficient period of time to permit transduction. This method leads to a 3- to 15-fold increase in transduction efficiency, depending on the type of cells transduced.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of transducing cells with retroviral vector particles, comprising: (a) contacting a suspension of said retroviral vector particles with said cells to form a mixture of said retroviral vector particles and said cells; and   (b) centrifuging said mixture for a period of time sufficient to permit transduction.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein said mixture is centrifuged for a period of time of from 30 minutes to 3 hours. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 wherein said mixture is centrifuged at from 1,000 to 4,000 rpm. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1 wherein said mixture is centrifuged at a temperature of from 15° C. to 37° C. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 2 wherein said mixture is centrifuged for a period of time of from 1 hour to 2 hours. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 5 wherein said mixture is centrifuged for a period of time of 90 minutes. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 3 wherein said mixture is centrifuged at from 2,000 rpm to 3,000 rpm. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 7 wherein said mixture is centrifuged at 2,500 rpm. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 4 wherein said mixture is centrifuged at a temperature of from 20° C. to 35° C. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 9 wherein said mixture is centrifuged at a temperature of about 32° C.